CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Chester

Iowa · 139 residents · 1.383 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Chester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $34,000. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $63,300. Households here earn about 45% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

139
−8%since 2000
from 151 in 2000
1990 – 2025
101 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 109 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
38.5
−19%since 2000
from 47.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 19902024
1131541952362771990201020202024Chester
2024150
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

$34,000
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,875 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,405
+17%since 2000
from $18,240 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.9%
+16.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
11.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Other services19.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration19.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade13.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade11.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Information9%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing6%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$63,300
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$417
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $313 in 2000
US average: $1,124
68.3%
−14.8 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
31.7% rent
1.9
+2%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(149)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(2)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.3%(5)
2020
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(124)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino8.6%(12)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)
Diversity Score20.1%(28)
20
+516%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

5.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
97.0%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
0.0%
−7.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

31.6 min
+128%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
62.3%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 88.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
1.6%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

0.0%
−15.5 ptssince 2011
from 15.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
58.8%
−13.0 ptssince 2011
from 71.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
31.3%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

57.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
42.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 39.6% in 2009
1.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.3%
−75.8 ptssince 2013
from 81.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chester

Head to head

Compare Chester to nearby cities

Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Iowa?

Chester, Iowa has about 139 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Iowa?

The typical household in Chester, Iowa earns about $34,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Iowa expensive?

In Chester, Iowa, the median home is worth about $63,300, and the typical rent is about $417 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Iowa?

About 5.0% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Iowa?

About 11.8% of people in Chester, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 13 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →